News tagged with field crops

Deterring signals: Tobacco plants advertise their defensive readiness to attacking leafhoppers

Following herbivory, plants produce jasmonic acid, a hormone which activates several plant defense reactions. Scientists found that leafhoppers can evaluate whether tobacco plants are ready for defense when attacked. If jasmonate-signaling ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 23, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Increasing predator-friendly land can help farmers reduce costs

Having natural habitat in farming areas that supports ladybugs could help increase their abundance in crops where they control pests and help farmers reduce their costs, says a Michigan State University study.

Biology / Ecology

created May 11, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Research is ensuring stormwater systems are designed for the future

In a world of changing weather and rainfall patterns, engineers face challenges when designing stormwater management systems.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Apr 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Experts suggest steps to stop spread of resistant corn rootworms

(Phys.org) -- The discovery that more Western corn rootworms are resistant to the toxin contained in widely planted transgenic corn has sparked a warning that farmers must change tactics or lose a valuable management tool ...

Biology / Ecology

created Apr 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Slug ecology and management in no-till field crops

As acreage of row crops managed with conservation tillage increases, more growers are encountering slugs, elevating their importance as crop pests. Slugs can eat virtually all crops, and they are challenging ...

Biology / Ecology

created Mar 14, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researcher tracks agricultural overuse of bug-killing technology

High corn prices are leading many growers to plant corn every year and to overuse pesticides and other bug-killing technology to maximize yields, researchers report. In many instances, pesticides are applied ...

Biology / Ecology

created Feb 29, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Wood chips help curb nitrate leaching

(PhysOrg.com) -- Wood chips can significantly stem nitrate flow from crop fields into the surrounding watershed, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study.

Biology / Ecology

created Feb 20, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Knowledge of fungi helps to map risks of genetically modified crops

Plant fungi are indispensable for a good plant growth. Dutch researcher Erik Verbruggen from the VU University Amsterdam has discovered that phosphate and grass-clover have an effect on the diversity and variation in the ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Feb 14, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Sweeten up your profits with the right hybrid

New University of Illinois sweet corn research shows that higher yield and profitability are possible with greater plant populations of certain hybrids.

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jan 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Honeybee deaths linked to seed insecticide exposure

Honeybee populations have been in serious decline for years, and Purdue University scientists may have identified one of the factors that cause bee deaths around agricultural fields.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Jan 12, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (18) | comments 25 | with audio podcast

Researchers attack a stinker of a pest; iPhone users can help track the invader

A new hobo pest -- the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) -- is pigging out on many of North America's most important crops, posing an unprecedented threat to U.S. agriculture, say experts.

Biology / Ecology

created Oct 19, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Using ground covers in organic production

Studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists indicate that organic farmers who need to periodically amend their soils with compost after planting can still control weeds -- and hold down costs -- by using fabric ...

Space & Earth / Environment

created Aug 30, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Divot resistance in golf course turfgrass

Golf courses, known for their calm scenic views and precise grass patterns, take daily abuse. Divots created by golf strokes are a common occurrence, and can be a costly problem for golf course maintenance operations. Although ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Aug 10, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Scientists grow plants with friendly fungi

Dr. Chris Thornton and colleagues at the University of Exeter are examining whether adding a safe and harmless fungus to compost boosts the growth and proliferation of crops' roots, helping them grow with ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Aug 08, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Fewer aphids in organic crop fields

Farmers who spray insecticides against aphids as a preventative measure only achieve a short-term effect with this method. In the long term, their fields will end up with even more aphids than untreated fields. This has been ...

Biology / Ecology

created Jul 13, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0